I can't say enough about Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria. I enjoy retellings and twists on fairytales, but this went far beyond expectations. I couldn't put it down!
Imagine if the Cinderella we know and love was a sham, a persona created by a girl who, raised alongside two stepsisters by a selfish, conniving stepmother, believes that the only one who will take care of her is herself. When she strays from her mother's plot enough to enchant the prince, rather than the wealthy lord she was supposed to, a complex web of schemes and lies springs forth, entangling all involved, including the royal family, a rebel force, a prince from the next country being held captive after his country lost the war, and more.
Woven into this fabric is lustre, a mineral that enables the user to cast spells, including the ones Aislinn/Ash used to bewitch the prince, and one of the valuable resources that her country attacked their neighbor for control over.
Ash is stuck in a constant cycle of maintaining her facade with the prince, managing her relationship with her family and the royal one, staying true to a secret commitment, and solidifying her place as princess. It doesn't help that the captive prince becomes more and more engaging as her time at the palace goes on.
This tale includes romance, adventure, magic, significant character growth, and more. I can't recommend it enough.

I was attracted by the gorgeous cover, and I fell in love with this twisted, suspenseful Cinderella retelling. If you’re interested in a new take on the classic fairy tale where the Cinderella character is a magic-wielding antihero embroiled in political intrigue, this is the book for you.

It took me a little while to warm up to our jaded narrator, Ash, but D.L. Soria drew me into her world, and before long, I was feeling everything Ash felt. All of the love, longing, hate, fear, shame, rage, exhaustion, determination, and more. And I was rooting for her to find her happy ending, though I wasn’t sure if she could pull it off.

Both the plot and the characters surprised me repeatedly. I lost sleep because I had to know what would happen next. I enjoyed the slow-burn romance, but I was also interested in Ash’s evolving relationships with her family, other members of the court, and a certain canine. My only disappointment is that the ending felt a little rushed and I would have liked to see an epilogue.

Note that this book contains lots of swearing, a little sex, and violence against children and animals.

I received an ARC through NetGalley, and I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Imagine if you will for just a moment that Cinderella was not the poor scullery maid but more the Rumplestiltskin of the story.
How differently would we look at her story?

What if the stroke of midnight isn't where it started but where the story took an unexpected turn? And what if there was no glass slipper that fell off as our Princess ran to her carriage? Thief Liar Lady allows us to explore all of the what-ifs you could think of and then some.

Now I'm not saying that Aislinn didn't have a hard time of it, after all that Step Mother of hers was more of a Step Monster but she had a part in the con and made decisions that had dire consequences.

Through trying to keep up the ruse, multiple kidnappings, a literal monster attacking her, and running out of luster all while she's trying to figure out who she is, what's right or wrong, and how she's going to fix this mess, it's quite frankly exhilarating and kept me glued to the pages.

And while our "Princess" still get's her happily ever after I don't think it's what any of us expected but in my opinion is perfect. and the way it should have happened. 

Now I'm a sucker for a good retelling and this is a very good retelling but it's also an amazing story filled with good versus evil even if who's good and who's evil changes from chapter to chapter it's just brilliant and I can't wait to read more by this author, hopefully, there are more retellings in her future because I loved this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of this ebook, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this! The premise is so fun but the premise didn't really match in actuality to me. I never got a clear understanding of the motivations and the plot was always a little blurry.

In this retelling of the Cinderella story by D. J. Soria, the author has created a layered and complex story with incredibly compelling characters, tons of intrigue and a truly magical tale. 

One of the reasons that this story is so fascinating is just how D. J. Soria mixes and retells the Cinderella legend from a very new point of view. The premise and execution are intoxicating and pull you into the novel so much that I couldn’t stop reading the story. I also love how magic works in the world, especially how magic has toxic elements just like natural elements like coal. 

One of the other reasons that the story really is so compelling is how complex and layered the characters are. Neither Ash or Rance are black and white. Each of them has flaws but each also has reasons for their behavior. I also love that the prince that Ash is supposed to wed is equally complex. Even the stepsisters are compelling and interesting. And the political overtones and monetary intrigues are grounded in the solid reality of how people behave in society creating a believable and realistic world. 

If you love twists on fairy tales or true love with snarky cynical characters, this is the novel for you. The characters, each and every one, are layered and complex in their behavior and in their interactions with each other. The world and magic are well built and incredibly compelling. The ending is perfect. I loved every minute of my time in this world and with these characters.

I received a complimentary, electronic copy of this fascinating novel from Netgalley, author D. L. Soria, and publisher Del Rey Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Thief Liar Lady of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to add D.L. Soria to my favorite writer's list and recommend her to friends and family.

Who would have believed such a complex, diverse tale could be hidden in a simple 'Once upon a Time'? This was a book I could not put down and was an undefinable thrill-a-minute. Give it a read. You will not be disappointed.

Thief Liar Lady is an engaging read, full of adventure, danger, and plotting. Unfortunately, the early chapters of the book set up the premise in a way that’s mostly just confusing — we hear a lot about lustre, about treaties, rebels, and refugees, and even about agrarian reform, of all things — but Ash’s role and her alliances don’t become clear for some time. The history between Solis and Eloria is likewise muddled, and it takes some effort to puzzle out what’s going on here — and not in the fun, “ooh, give me another clue!” sort of way, but more along the lines of “I don’t know who these people are or what they’re trying to do”.

Eventually, the pieces get (mostly) explained, and by the last third or so of the book, I felt much more invested and interested in the outcome. Still, the court politics and alliances are not always clear, the use of lustre seems haphazard, and Ash herself seems to change course or act unreasonably more often than is helpful.

Overall, I liked the book, but felt that it was much too long and could have used a lot more clarity in terms of laying out the players, the stakes, and the background. When the plot picks up, there are some exciting moments, but inconsistencies and actions that are illogical take away from the bigger-picture impact.

As a Cinderella retelling, Thief Liar Lady provides some clever twists on the story, and I enjoyed it enough to see it through, despite my reservations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Following the events of the classic fairytale of Cinderella, Thief Liar Lady follows Lady Aislinn in the aftermath. She is now betrothed to the prince and awaiting her happily ever after-- right? Or perhaps not.
In a stunning twist on the story we know and love, we learn the secrets, lies and hidden agendas that got Ash into her newfound position of power. With her country on the brink of war and a fiancee who might not actually be as charming as he's made out to be, Ash will do anything it takes to succeed.

REVIEW BELOW CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS!

I absolutely adored this book! The characters are multi-faceted and incredibly, for lack of a better word, charming. I feared in the beginning that Ash would be a one-note type character, but her development throughout the novel was lovely. Soria does a fantastic job of shaping each character and relationship so intricately that it feels as though you are an active participant in the story.

I was hesitant about the romance between Ash and Rance because I feared he'd be just another dark haired, brooding love interest, BUT the way their relationship blossomed so slowly and naturally over time won me over. It takes tremendous skill to make chemistry so palpable via text-- as a primarily queer book reviewer, I mean this as a very high compliment when I say that this was one of the best m/f relationships I have ever read about. I would absolutely eat up another novel about the two of them.

I feel that the only slight fault I could find would be that it was a little tough to picture the world in my head as the world-building is not particularly thorough. However, in my personal preference, I don't really mind this. I like simplicity and sometimes things can become too overly complicated when the author goes into intense detail over the little things. We as readers also very likely can picture the world of Cinderella when reading this, so much of the base-work has already been lain out for us. I believe that focusing more on the characters, their goals, and their connections with each other is much more important for the scope of this particular story.

Overall, I was highly impressed and will undoubtedly be seeking out any and all future novels by D.L. Soria.

I love fairytale re-imaginings, so this was right up my alley. Cinderella had nothing on Ash. She was no ordinary girl with an evil stepmother and 2 evil step=sisters (although she did have those). Ash also had magic in the form of lustre, which could do anything from make a prince fall madly in love with you, make a guard fall asleep by blowing a little in his face, make yourself more beautiful.... well, the possibilities are endless. Then there is the darker kind of magic. Magic that, if unleashed, can kill a man (or king). There are no coaches made from pumpkins, or pretty woodland creatures in this book. This is a darker, but much more exciting and grown-up version of the fairytale. Enjoy!

The pitch for this one is “What if Cinderella was actually running a con?” Upon reading, this is a *little* disingenuous. This book starts *after* Cinderella has successfully *completed* her con. Prince Charming is in love with her, they’re engaged to be married, and Cinderella is installed in the royal palace ready to begin Phase 2.

~~Cinderella~~ Ash, known publicly as Lady Aislinn, has further schemes. As far as her stepmother is concerned, Ash is working towards securing advantageous marriages towards her stepsisters (something of a challenge, given how they are widely reviled for being cruel and abusive ever since Ash was “rescued” from her situation by the Prince). But Ash is playing her own game. Her dead mother was secretly from a nearby, conquered kingdom, and Ash is working in secret to liberate, or at least improve, the lives of her people.

Living in the palace as a hostage ever since the conquest is the son of the king and queen of the conquered kingdom. The Hostage Prince is handsome, and has the reputation of being a lazy, sloppy wastrel, though in their encounters with each other Ash gets the sense that he is much more than meets the eye.

He’s also the best friend of Prince Charming, the two of them having grown up together.

You can see where this is going.

I won’t call this a book with a love triangle, per se. Ash is never even remotely interested in Prince Charming; she is using him, but that does make any kind of an affair with the Hostage Prince a non-starter. But there’s a lot of drama and tension that is love triangle-esque.

It’s a fun story, and a tense one. I generally didn’t know where this was going to go until I went there. It kept me guessing on whether or not it would be a happy ending right up to the very end. Easy four stars.

Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria is a Cinderella re-telling that takes place after the ball and the slipper and the marriage proposal. In this version, the protagonist (called Ash and Lady Aislinn) is motivated by much more than romance or curiosity to see the ball. She carries out her (still decidedly wicked) stepmother’s schemes, while also doing some plotting of her own. There is also a political component to this story, which is set in a country on the brink of a greed-motivated war.

My biggest issue with this book is that in trying to add so much complexity to the story of Cinderella, each narrative thread seems weak. Ash’s attempts to move past her childhood trauma. Her desire to help her mother’s rebelling people. Her romance with (the wrong) prince. Each of these would have made an interesting story, but together they end up feeling short-changed. This isn’t helped by a rushed ending that leaves many of these storylines either unresolved or resolved too easily.

Still, readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings would probably enjoy this novel. A morally-gray Cinderella figure was certainly an interesting change.

"I think you'll find, if you pay close enough attention, that most women are always angry."

A slightly slow beginning led to a lovely story! A retelling of the Cinderella myth, where instead of the prince falling in love with a woman and them living happily ever after, she used some magic to make him fascinated with her, in order to manipulate her situation into the palace.

I liked the relationship with the step-sisters and liked the relationship with Rance, though I would've loved a little more build up there. Was there enough? Probably, but I wanted more.

I also wanted a bit more to know about the grandmother. We get her built up as this incredible figure but when we finally meet her, it felt a bit lacking.

Overall, I enjoyed this! If you're looking for a different take of the Cinderella story where Cinderella has a plan and wants to get things done despite the incompetence of the men around her, this is it.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for a chance to read and review!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A new take on Cinderella, after the classic fairy tale has ended. I like it!

Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria is an adult fantasy retelling of Cinderella, AFTER the supposed happily ever after, and some of the before of course. Instead of being a rags to riches story, Thief Liar Lady presents the classic fairy tale story with the premise of scheming and plotting. Including the likes of our main protagonist, Ash, who was raised with the knowledge of how to get everything she ever wanted. Such as a crown and prince.

I don't want to spoil too much, as it's best to go into this book blind. But know this, Soria takes the familiarity of the fairy tale and turns it on it's head in such clever and remarkable ways. But at times, I did find myself confused and finding it hard to keep track of who was who. And certain design elements of the worldbuilding. But otherwise, I will gladly recommend this one to anyone wanting a new take on the so called "happily ever after."

Cinderella is a story we all know, or do we? The orphan turned scullery maid, turned princess, is the master of the story and manipulating the situation, but her magic is running out. She's been able to use her magic to keep her family fed and taken care of. On top of that, war is about to breakout and a hostage prince from another kingdom has caught her eye. The problem is, if she loses the balance people could end up dead.

D.L. Sonia takes the Cinderella story and makes her accessible. She's not perfect. She's not a pinnacle of perfection; our girl feels real. This book is enjoyable for lovers of fantasy, those who wondered if there was more to the story, and those who want a fun story to get lost in.
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a con story with a princess twist


thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

Yikes another one that wasn’t for me I guess. Messy writing, rambling sentences and unbelievable characters. I found this a slog to read.

I’ve read my fair share of Cinderella retelling but this one was definitely different than I was expecting. The story begins after the events of the traditions Cinderella Fairy Tale, but you get flashbacks of the events through out the book. The author draws you in from the beginning and I was intrigued the whole time never quite sure how it was going to end. While the end felt a little rushed and the rules of magic were not quite defined l, I enjoyed the book over all. It had romance, political intrigue, magic, betrayal, spies, and plenty of twist. Thanks Net Galley and Del Rey books for the advanced copy.

Review will be posted on Instagram (@ellie.reads.a.lot) by the publication date.

not sure what I was expecting but the premise intrigued me and this book was great! I love when authors take liberty with a fairy tale and turn it on its head.

Ash/Aislinn isn’t someone I would mess around with because she can outsmart anyone in the room besides maybe her step mother. There’s a twist that I didn’t see coming and I rather liked. It’s pretty evident who she’ll end up with but how they get there is the fun.

I really enjoyed the magic aspect of the novel as well.

This was an enthralling tale of deception, ambition, and the art of survival in a world where power and manipulation reign. Readers are taken on a captivating journey that defies traditional fairy tales and reveals a darker, more complex reality. The protagonist's transformation is far from the enchanting metamorphosis often associated with rags-to-riches stories. The author skillfully peels back the layers of her character, revealing the intricate web of lies and cunning she weaves to secure her position and future. The delicate balance between the protagonist's ambitions and the looming dangers she faces adds a constant sense of tension and urgency. Overall, I really enjoyed this new take on a classic fairytale.

It took me some chapters to get into this one, but there's a point somewhere around the middle that made me unable to put it down.
Ash, Lady Aislin, had a magical three nights with the prince at his birthday ball before running away and leaving behind only a crystal shoe. He scours the land and eventually finds her and frees her from the clutches of her evil stepmother and stepsisters. It's a tale that grows even more magical with each telling, one that everyone knows. But the truth is that Ash used magic to trick the prince to follow her stepmother's orders and gain a rich, titled husband. Except Ash has her own plans and is pulling an even bigger con to help a rebellion, or she is trying to until a chance meeting with the captive prince from the neighboring country starts making her question her choices.
It's a Cinderella retelling with a darker edge and lots of moral conundrums. It starts out feeling like something you've read even as a retelling, but the characters grow on you as things get darker and more dire so that you can't put it down until you know what's going to happen.
The romance is slow-burn, but it's there in every single interaction. Ash knows what her heart wants and she knows what she has to do to help thousands, and there's no way she can have both. But at its heart, even as a retelling, this is a fairytale and you know that not even the very dark events that take place can keep Ash from her HEA.
It's not super original in plot, but enthralling and super satisfying in the end.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the early read!